The consumer association Efektiva has issued a warning about ongoing public consultations on the draft of a new Consumer Protection Law. They claim that a proposed amendment to Article 4, paragraph 1 by the Ministry of Trade effectively aims to “undermine the current law.”
While the new law is being presented publicly as an improvement in consumer rights, Efektiva highlights a dangerous change: the previous law applied only when no other regulation provided a higher level of consumer protection. The draft amendment removes the requirement for the other regulation to offer higher protection, meaning it can now provide a lower level of consumer rights instead.
Efektiva warns this change allows local governments to issue acts with lower legal authority that can override provisions of the Consumer Protection Law. For example, a local utility or parking service could set much longer deadlines for responding to complaints—such as 6 months instead of the legally mandated 8 days—effectively weakening consumer protections in different cities.
The public consultation period lasts until August 24, and Efektiva urges all concerned citizens to participate. They express disappointment that despite earlier hopes the Ministry would withdraw this change, it has decided to proceed.
Efektiva concludes that the new Ministry leadership appears intent on dismantling consumer rights, mainly benefiting municipal companies, large retailers, and telecom operators, and insists that this attempt must not succeed.
